Mock Draft Profile: Baylor DT Andrew Billings

Giants.com reviews the latest Mock Drafts and highlights players predicted to be selected by the Giants

Giants.com was in Indianapolis for the annual NFL Scouting Combine, a weeklong job interview for college football’s best players leading up to the 2016 NFL Draft. We’ve gathered all the mock drafts to date and took a look at the players projected to wind up going to the Giants with the No. 10 pick. Based off these draft experts, today’s profile is on Baylor defensive tackle Andrew Billings, who was included in Chad Reuter’s mock draft on NFL.com.

A powerful All-American defensive lineman, the 2015 Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of Year was a key cog in Baylor’s most successful three-year span in school history, which included two conference championships and 32 wins. Billings was a two-time All-Big 12 honoree and semifinalist for the 2015 Bednarik Award, finishing his career ranked ninth on the program’s all-time tackles for loss list with 30.

WHAT THEY WERE SAYING AT THE COMBINE

“Billings' combination of foot quickness and strength will make him a nightmare matchup for interior offensive lines from Day 1,” said Reuter, who ranked him as the No. 1 safest pick among interior defensive linemen. “He can play the nose on a three-man line, but would be a disruptive one-gap player in a four-man front, especially next to another strong tackle minimizing double teams. The early entrant has a great ceiling, as well as a pretty solid floor, making him one of the top players in the class.”

WHAT ANDREW WAS SAYING AT THE COMBINE

“For me, it’s my explosiveness off the ball [that sets me apart],” Billings said. “Coaches see the explosiveness I have and the motor that I run with. That sets me apart.”

Added Billings: “Also, my strength -- I think I’m strong enough to compete at that level and well enough to do so.”

WHAT PLAYER HE MODELS GAME AFTER

Vince Wilfork, Houston Texans. “He really has the attack off the ball like that,” Billings said. “I think I bring a little bit more movement laterally onto that position, and quickness. But definitely his aggression I can bring.”

FUN FACT

A local phenom, Billings competed in power-lifting at Waco (Texas) High School and broke a 22-year-old Texas state meet record with a 2,010-pound effort (805 squat, 500 bench, 705 dead lift).

Billings won't turn 21 until March of 2016, but he has the overwhelming strength of a full­grown NFL defensive tackle. With elite power and unusual closing speed for a big man, Billings has a chance to become something we rarely see ­- a playmaking nose tackle with the ability to dominate at the point of attack. Teams will decide through research and interviews whether Billings can handle the NFL life at such a young age, but if he can, he has All-Pro potential.